A new area code is coming to Colorado.

Starting in 2026, phone customers in the 970 area code region, which covers western and northern parts of the state, could be assigned a new 748 area code, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission announced in a Monday news release.

The new area code will not be used until the 970 area code has been used up, according to the news release. That area code is expected to run out of phone numbers by early 2026, and the new 748 code will last about 38 years.

The implementation plan for the new area code will happen over a nine-month schedule at least six months before the 970 area code runs out.

Current phone customers will keep their existing phone numbers and area codes, and call prices, coverage areas and other rates and services will not change during the new area code rollout.

The 970 area code region was created in 1995 after the original 303 Numbering Plan Area that covered the entire state was split between the Denver metro area and the southeast 719 area code in 1988.

The 720 area code was added to the metro area in 1998, and the 983 area code was added in June 2022.